94 



" For mackerel fisliing, tlio Aniovicans use 'porfjies' and claina, chopped fine, as bait. The 'porgics, 

 are found only on tlie coast of tlie United States, and, wlieii imported into tlio Dominion, cost about 

 6 dollars per barrel. 



"Tlie bait with which the Auieriruna are supjilied is far superior to any which can be iirocurcd in 

 this country, to which may be attributed in a jjreat nuiusiu'e tlu^ success of tlio Americans previously to 

 the recent restrictions, altlimii.'Ii I'ven now the local tishcruien conipliiin thai they have uocliance while 

 an American schooner is lisliiuL! near them." — Annual IJeporl nt the Dcpartmenl of Jlnrine and 

 Fi.?heries for the year ending June 1870, pji. 312, u4l'. 



i 



The menhaden fishery has within ten years grown into an immense business. 

 Formerly they were taken only for bait, and were either ground in hand-mills for 

 mackerel, or used in wimt is called " slivers " for codfisli bait. Tiierc is now a largo 

 fleet of steamers and sailing vessels engaged in this fishery. Large factories have 

 been erected on siiorc for extracting the oil. As these fish are not valuable until 

 they are fat, which is in August and September, they are not much taken in their 

 spawning time; and they will not therefore be exterminated. They are caught 

 solely with seines, near the shore, their food being a kind of marine seed whicL 

 floats upon the waters, consequently they will not take the hook. This fishery is 

 one of the most profitable of all the fisheries, the oil being used for tanning and 

 currying extensively at home, and being exported in large quantities. The refuse 

 of the fish, after being pressed, is used for manufacturing guano or fish phosphate, 

 and is very valuable as a fertilizer. This fishery is purely an American fishery, no 

 menhaden ever being found north of the coast of Maine. It is entirely an inshore 

 fishery, the fish being taken within two miles from the shore. 



The Unitod States inshore fisheries for mackerel, in quality, quantity, and 

 value, are unsurpassed by any in the world. They arc within lour hours' sail of the 

 American market, and many of tlie mackerel are sold fresh at a larger price than 

 when salted and packed. The vessels fitted with mackerel seines can use the same 

 means and facilities for taking menhaden, so that both fisheries can be pursued 

 together. And they combine advantages compared with which the Dominion 

 fisheries are uncertain, poor in quality, and vastly less in quantity. The Canadian 

 fisheries are a long voyage from any market whatever, nnd involve far more 

 exposure to loss of vessels and life. These fisheries along the sliores of the United 

 States are now open to the competition of the cheap-built vessels, cheap-fed crew, 

 and poorly paid labour of the Dominion fishermen, who pay trilling taxes, and live, 

 both on board their vessels and at home, at less than half the expense of American 

 fishermen. It is only from lack of enterprise, capital, and ability that the Dominion 

 fishermen have failed to use them. But recently hundreds of Dominion fishermen 

 have learned their business at Gloucester and other American fishing towns, and by 

 shipping in American vessels. They have in United Slates' waters to-day over 

 thirty vessels equipped for seining, which, in company with the American fleet, are 

 sweeping the shores of New England. 



2. The enormous pecuniary value of the right to import fish and fish-oil, free 

 of duty, into the markets of the United States, must be admitted by every candid 

 mind. Testimony from all quarters can be adduced of the most convincing- 

 character on this subject. 



In June 24, 1851, long before the adoption of the Reciprocity Treaty, the 

 British Minister at Washington, Lord Elgin, wrote to Mr. Webster, that if the 

 United States would admit "all fish, either cured or iresh, imported from the 

 British North American possessions, in vessels of any nation or description, free of 

 duty, and upon terms in all respects of equality with fish imported by citizens of 

 the United States," Her Majesty's Government were prepared "to throw open to 

 the fishermen of the United States the fisheries in the waters of the British North 

 American Colonies, with permission to those fishermen to land on the coasts of those 

 Colonies for the purpose of drying their nets and curing fish ; provided that, in so 

 doing, they do not interfere with the owners of private property, or with the 

 operations of British fishermen." — Documents accompanying President's message, 

 December, 1851, part 1, pp. 89, 90. 



And after the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty in 18G7, a Committee ol 

 the Nova Scotia Legislsture earnestly recommended " that, instead of levying a 

 pecuniary license fee, steps be taken to arrange, if practicable, with the American 

 Government, for the admission of the products of Colonial fishermen into the 

 American market free, or under a more reduced Tariff than that now imposed." 

 — Report of Committee of Legislature of Nova Scotia, 1867, quoted in Knight's 

 Report on the Fisheries of Nova Scotia, p. 14. 



